Wireless earbuds have exploded since Apple launched the AirPods with seemingly every company possible trying to get their product in your ears. It's a crowded space and standing out against the might of Apple is tough. Even if you're primarily a PC user, the AirPods work great with Windows.
So then, what makes the xFyro Pro ANC any different? For one, they offer active noise cancellation (ANC) for the same price as the regular AirPods, and have a few more tricks up their sleeves as well, including the promise of AI.
But are they actually any good? As it happens, yes, they're actually not bad at all. But given the price, even the discounted one, there are some concerns.
Bottom line: Comfortable earbuds that sound good and have solid battery life, but the ANC is a little weak compared to competing products and the build quality isn't what you'd expect to see at this price.
For
- Comfortable with a range of different tips
- Good battery life
- Solid sound
- Bluetooth 5.0
- Water-resistant
Against
- ANC is weaker than some competing products at a similar price
- Different modes are confusing to operate
- Build quality isn't what you'd expect at this price
xFyro Pro ANC: Price and availability
The xFyro Pro ANC earbuds have a list price of apparently $300 but that is discounted to $150 by the manufacturer. You have to buy through the xFyro store, but it does offer free shipping worldwide.
xFyro Pro ANC: What you'll like
At first glance, the xFyro Pro ANC looks like any other run-of-the-mill pair of Amazon-bought earbuds. The external packaging is nice, but there's little on the exterior of the product to suggest there's anything special going on. Fortunately, looking at the outside of a pair of headphones doesn't tell you the whole story.
These are really light, very comfortable earbuds. They follow the AirPods-esque style of a thin, long stalk below the earbuds, but as these are black nobody will mistake the two. You get some different tips in the box to help get the right fit for your ears, but this is the first set of earbuds I've used in recent times that were perfect out of the box.
I rarely use wireless earbuds for long periods as my ears aren't really the right shape and I get uncomfortable, or they simply fall out. The xFyro Pro ANC is the first pair I've used in some time that I could wear as long as AirPods without discomfort. A very pleasant surprise.
They sound great, too. Don't get me wrong, they're not the outright best-sounding wireless earbuds I've ever used; that still goes to the Huawei FreeBuds Pro, but, they're still really good. I use an EQ on my phone to add a little extra oomph to my rock music and the xFyro Pro ANC handled this with ease, with good volume and clarity, a rich sound, and no signs of any distortion.
That's mostly down to the 7mm drivers squeezed inside along with all the other tech. The battery is surprisingly good as well, with a single charge of the battery case lasting me a couple of weeks using the earbuds for three to four hours a day. The case charges over USB-C and has quick charge, and from empty, you can expect the buds to be topped up by the case in around two hours.
As the name hints, the xFyro Pro has ANC and it has a pretty interesting boast: AI-powered transparency. This is supposed to enable up to 6,000 sounds to be intelligently allowed to break through the ANC for situational awareness. I can only assume that the sound of my children is one of those 6,000 sounds.
Other things to note are pretty standard fare for wireless earbuds. Bluetooth 5.0 is important and contributes to a decent range, while touch controls, voice assistant access, and integrated microphone are all welcome additions to the mobile user in particular.
xFyro Pro ANC: What you won't like
The AI-powered ANC is impressive on paper, but in practice, a key part of it just doesn't seem good enough to me. The ANC just feels a little weak, especially when you compare it to something similarly priced like my Huawei FreeBuds Pro. Where the Huawei buds block out absolutely everything, the xFyro doesn't, even without considering the AI stuff.
I'm fairly limited to where I can test in the present climate, but based on how much of my office fan I can hear still when listening to music I'm not sure I'd guarantee these would be a good choice on a plane.
The build quality for something that costs $150 is also disappointing. The packaging is great, but the battery case, in particular, feels and looks pretty cheap. The plastics aren't particularly high quality and put on a desk next to Anker's much less expensive Soundcore earbuds, you wouldn't point to the xFyro as being the "higher-end" and certainly more expensive choice.
The buds themselves are OK, especially when you consider the quality of Apple's white plastic on the AirPods in comparison, but the battery case isn't good and it's going to look really tatty really quickly. Being black only escalates that.
There's also the price to consider. Paying $150 for a good set of ANC earbuds isn't out of the ordinary, but those are usually from well-known brands backed by huge R&D budgets and lots of marketing. And they nearly always feel a little more premium than the battery case you're getting here. $150 is a hefty purchase, and the fact you can't buy from Amazon or Best Buy or any other big retailer doesn't help. You do get free global shipping, at least.
xFyro Pro ANC: Competition
When you consider competing earbuds you have to consider the AirPods. Made to work best with Apple devices they may be, but any other platform with Bluetooth audio capabilities can use them as well. They sound good, they're more comfortable than they look, and while pricey, they're a quality product. Even if you don't like Apple gear, the AirPods are worth a look.
Elsewhere there are plenty of good earbuds to consider, but the Huawei FreeBuds Pro is one of the best. These, too, boast ANC, comfort, sound quality, and good battery life. The ANC on these earbuds is tremendous, they're stylish, and the look and feel are of a product that costs this type of money.
xFyro Pro ANC: Should you buy it?
You should buy this if ...
- You're looking for good sound quality
- Battery life is important
- You want comfortable earbuds
You shouldn't buy this if ...
- Strong ANC is important
- You're shopping on a budget
The xFyro Pro ANC is not a bad pair of wireless earbuds by any stretch. But when you're spending this kind of money, the build quality of the battery case, in particular, isn't that hot. But you do at least get fantastic battery life from it.
It's hard to stand out in this space though, and while I wish the ANC was stronger, the AI transparency mode is interesting, and let's face it, being able to hear the world around you at important times is important.
But the sound quality is good and they're very comfortable. This might not be the first set of wireless earbuds you should buy, but if you do pick them up you'll be mostly happy.
Bottom line: Good sounding, comfortable earbuds let down by build quality issues and a fairly high price.
